Gumpen at the Königssee: National Park closes Instagram hotspot

For years he was the Mecca for Instagrammer, now it should be over.The National Park Administration Berchtesgaden blocks the photo hotspot Gumpen, which is also known as "Natural Infinity Pool".

Gumpen images on Instagram are the same

The reason is the steadily rising visitor numbers around the Königsbach waterfall in the Berchtesgadener Land with correspondingly negative effects on nature.Numerous reports from the past show how ruthlessly some photo disciples dealt with the flora and fauna on the way from and to the gumps.The National Park Administration counted tens of thousands of visitors a year, of whom a number of recordings such as this by influencer Yvonne Pferner on Instagram Hochluden:

Gumpen am Königssee: Nationalpark macht Instagram-Hotspot dicht

In the meantime, the National Park Administration has become too colorful for the hustle and bustle of the supposedly special photos: In the past few years, in the area of the waterfall cascade, "a widely branched network made of hitchhiker paths with a length of at least three kilometers" has formed, it said in a message."As a result, the entire area is massively disturbed - the individual paths that run again and again are sometimes over several meters wide.((...) Due to the destruction of the vegetation, the top floor is free in the steep slopes and is further removed by the mechanical load and the onset of water erosion.In many places, the fine roots of the surrounding trees are exposed to a large area.Numerous animal species, including strictly protected bird species, are also significantly disturbed by the massive visitor flows."In addition: garbage, noise, illegal campfire and repeatedly rescue actions for people in need.There were also several deaths in the popular photo motif, possibly because the dangers of nature were underestimated.

Rangers should control access ban on the Königssee

From now on, access to the natural pool is therefore cordoned off, around ten hectares around the tourist and tourist magnets may no longer be entered for five years."This period can be sufficient that the vegetation recovers and the soil wounds are closed," said the National Park Administration.Appeals to the reason of the visitors would have had no effect.

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"If it turns out that five years are not enough or that the visitor printing has reached the height as in the recent past, a further blocking after the next five years cannot be excluded."

In the past few days, employees of the National Park Administration have attached signs to the paths, and barriers block access in some places.

The rangers of the national park administration should check the ban.According to the information, a punishment "at least in the three -digit range" can result in initial violations, but the fine can even be up to 25.000 euros.